Collapsible bed and the like



' June 7, 1932.

S. BRECK'MAN ET AL COLLAPSIBLE BED AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 4, 1931 INVENTOR'S Atwrn June 1932- s. B'RECKMAN ET AL 1,362,453

COLLAPSIBLE BED AND THE LIKE Filed May- 4, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fia-mual BYeckmcm l BrecKmcLn INVENTORS y W K Mborneyv June 7, 1932. s. BRECKMAN ET AL COLLAPSIBLE BED AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 4, 1931 m Mu m E c m N Be 45 s I H E H m B E E E m i 5: N,% J 0 a Q o y o o 1 M. 6 \0 1 Patented June E, 1%32 mmtBi-Wm PATENT FFE SAD/FUEL BREGKMAN, OF BRONDESBURY, LONDON, AND JULIUS BRECKJIAN, OF LONDON, ENGLAND; BE RICE LILIAN BRECKMAN EXECUTRIX OF SAID SAMUEL BR-EOKMAN,

DECEASED COLLAPSIBLE BED AND THE LIKE Application filed May l, 1931, Serial No. 534,852, and in Great Britain May 20, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible beds and the like of the type 1n which the bed structure is formed of three sections adapted to collapse into substantially U-form when the device is not in use. As heretofore proposed, in collapsible beds of this type, the middle section has been fixed and the two end sections have folded downwardly and outwardly about the ends of this middle section, thereby necessitating two operations to open out thebed. In addition, the beds even when collapsed have occupied a considerable amount of space. Now the chief objects of the present invention are, firstly, to provide a: collapsible bed in which the structure in its collapsed form will occupy only a minimum amount of space so that it can be stored away in any suitable small recess, secondly, to provide a collapsible bed structure which can be collapsed or opened out by means of a single operation only and, thirdly, generally to improve the construction of such devices so that they are simple and cheap to manufacture and efficient in use.

According to the present invention, therefore, in a collapsible bed of the type referred to, the middle section is, in the collapsing operation, arranged to be depressed into a framework so that the whole of the available space is utilized to the best advantage.

In the preferred form of this invention, one of the end sections is pivoted to the framework or a support thereon intermediate of its length so that this end section, during the opening and closing operations, swings about this line of pivoting due to the depression and raising of the middle section. I

The middle sect-ion is conveniently connected to the framework through links which are so arranged that only a single operation is necessary to open and close the bed structure as will hereinafter be described.

The frame may be provided with castors or the like on which it can be readily moved from place to place.

In order that this invention may be the more clearly understood and readily carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example and not of limitation one convenient form of this invention, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bed structure according to this invention in the open position, and with the mattress and other bedding removed.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the device partially closed, and

Flgure 3 is a perspective view of the device in the fully closed position, part of the framework being broken away to show the rellitive position of the parts more clearly, an

Figure 4 is a view of a suitable recess to receive the collapsed bed structure according to this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the device comprises a wooden frame a mounted on ball castors or the like 6 so that it can be sliclden into and out of any suitable recess. The wooden frame a is preferably of the form shown, and, as will be appreciated, the overall dimensions of the same are small. Thus from front to back the overall dimension, when the structure is closed, is inches, while the width, of course, varies in accordance with the width of the bed desired. In addition, the overall height of the whole de vice is only approximately inches when closed. Since, however, for storage purposes it is chiefly the depth and height of the fitting that has to be considered, it will be appreciated that the device, according to this invention, may be readily stored in a very smallspace. Figure 4 illustrates a suitable form of recess within which the collapsible bed, according to the present invention, may be housed. As will be seen, the sides 0 of the recess are provided with rollers 0 to contact with the sides of the frame 0; and ease the insertion of the same into the recess, while the front edge of the bottom 0 of the recess is provided with rollers 0 for a like purpose. Doors (Z are provided to close this recess and, with the doors d closed, the fitting will, as will readily be appreciated, be completely hidden. The recess may convenient ly be, say, the centre portion of a sideboard which is provided also with, say, three drawers and two cupboards. The centre portion of the sideboard, which need only be quite small to accommodate the collapsible bed, according to the present invention, may be provided with hinged doors so that when the frame and closed bed structure has been slidden into the same, the hinged doors may be closed. The device will then have the appearance of an ordinary sideboard since no part of the wooden frame or bed structure can be seen. Similarly the collapsible bed may be combined with a wardrobe, chest of drawers or the like. It may also be received in any suitable recess, for example, it may be enclosed within a structure resembling a rug boX or log chest or may even be stored in the bottom of a cupboard. It may also be arranged to be received in a recess built into a house wall, or may be used in connection with ships furniture, railway carriages, caravans or the like.

The bed structure comprises rear side members e of angle iron which are pivot d at or near their centres on pins f carried by brackets f secured to the sides of the wooden frame a. The forward ends of these side members a are hinged as at c to one end of intermediate side members g forming the middle section, the forward ends of which are likewise hinged as at g to one end of the front side members h. All the side members are conveniently made of angle iron for rig idity and lightness. The intermediate side members 9 are each provided with an elongated slot 9 within which is arranged a pin j carried by a forwardly bent arm 7' pivoted at its lower end, as at j", to a strip of angle iron j secured in position in the corners of the frame. The upper end of this arm j extends above the intermediate side members 9 and is provided with a pin j disposed in an elongated slot 7: at one end of a strut 79 the forward end of which is hinged as at to a front side me: her it at a suitable point.

Foot and head rails 7L and 6 respectively are hinged as at if and c to the forward and rear end sections of the bed structure. The sides of the head and foot rails are curved, as shown, and tension springs h and e are connected between fixed pins or the like on the side members it and e, and the foot and head rails respectix ely. These tension springs are so arranged that in the lowering and raising movements of the foot and head rails h and 6 they move over centre and thus serve equally well to keep the foot and head rails in the raised or lower position.

Pivoted to the underside of the front sine members it are two sets of legs Z and P, the one set Z being pivoted near the free end of the front side members It, and the other set Z being pivoted near the pivotal connection between the front side members it and the intermediate side members 9. Each of the sets of legs are joined together at a suitable point along their length by means of cross bars Z and they may be formed of strip iron, the ends of which are turned inwardly, as shown clearly in Figure 1 to form feet.

The rails 7L1 and c are adapted to fold on top of the bed structure and hold the bolster m, pillows m and other bedding in place, and form a pillow and bolster rest, and the legs Z and Z are adapted to fold under the be l structure within the side members. In ad dition, a stretcher bar it is also arranged under the bed structure, this stretcher bar being bent downwardly in order to prevent any discomfort arising to the user of the bed and also being pivoted to the front side members.

A wire spring mattress 0 is secured to the bed frame and the usual other bedding is prc vided. WVith the bed structure collapsed, there is sufficient room between the substantially vertically disposed rear and front sec tions to contain all the bedding, such as blankets, pillows, bolster and the like, as will be clearly seen on reference to Figure 3.

lVhen the bed is open, the side members are horizontal and in line, or substantially so, and the pivoted arms are arranged vertically. The two sets of legs slope in opposite directions, as will be seen on reference to Figure 2, and with the strut in connecting the upper end of the pivoted arm 7' to the front side members it form an eflieient support for the forward end of the bed.

To collapse the bed structure, the foot and head rails 7L and e are first folded into their collapsed position and the front end of the bed frame is then lifted. Lifting of this forward end of the bed will enable the front side members to hinge upwardly, the slots at the ends of the struts sliding about the pins. Continued upward movement and rearward 7 pressure on the front end of the bed frame,

as indicated by the arrow at the top left hand portion of Figure 2, will cause the intermediate side members, comprising the middle section of the structure, to move rearwardly, due to the pivoted arm swinging rearwardly, as shown in Figure 2, and will also cause the rear side members to swing about the pins. The pressure is continued until the intermediate side members are disposed substantially horizontally at the bottom of the wooden frame and the rear and front side members are arranged substantially vertically, as shown in Figure 3. The whole bed structure then lies within the compass of the wooden frame which can thus be slidden on its ball castors into the recess which is adapted to receive the same.

It will thus be seen that the operation of closing the bed structure can be performed easily and in a single movement.

The front of the frame a may be cut away, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, in order to allow a free passage of the middle section of the bed and to allow the ready collapsing and opening out of the structure.

The opening operation is the reverse of the closing movements. With the structure in the closed position indicated in Figure 3, the upper end of the foot section of the bed is raised slightly and then pulled forward. Raising of the foot section will enable the lower end of the same to clear the front of the frame and the forward pull will straighten the bed structure out. The legs Z are swung down and the leys Z are allowed to swing down. Since the foot section moves forwardly and downwardly, it will be seen that the legs Z will rest on the floor before the legs Z reach the ground. When the legs Z rest on the ground, however, the bed structure will not be fully extended and a continued pull on the foot section will serve to straighten the structure and will also cause a movement of the whole structure about the legs Z The structure then assumes the position shown in Figure 1, and, with the foot and head rails 72/ and e raised, will be ready for use.

raised and lowered.

Among the many advantages arising from this invention may be mentioned the following: Firstly, when the bed is made complete with bedding, bolster and pillows, it will close into three parts and can be opened without disturbing the bedding. Secondly, by means of the castors on the frame, it is very simple and con enient to move the whole device to any position and through passages and the like since the device, according to the present invention, is a complete unit in itself and forms no actual integral part of any piece of furniture and, thirdly, the structure can be made in all standard widths without increasing in any way the depth of the device when collapsed. The depth of the recess is thus standard and, as will be appreciated, the device can be stored in very small compass. A further feature of this invention is that there are no loose parts to be lost and no liability of any part of the device breaking or coming apart.

We claim 1. A collapsible bed comprising a frame, a three section bed framework, the sections of which are pivoted together end to end so that when collapsed the framework is of substantially U-form, a pair of pivoted arms at the front end of said frame disposed one on each side of said bed framework, a pin and slot connection between said arms and the middle section of the bed frame-work so that said arms support the said section in the open position and slide with respect thereto on the pin and slot connection during the -closing,operation, pivot members in said three section bed framework, the sections of which are pivoted together end to end so that -When collapsed the framework is of substantially U-form, a pair of pivoted arms at the front end ofsaid frame disposed one on each side of said bed'framework, said arms extending above the middle bed section, when the bed framework is in the open position, a pin and slot connection between said arms and the middle section of the bed framework so that said arms support the said section in the open position and slide with respect there to on the pin and slot connection during the closing operation, links connecting the upper ends of said pivoted arms to one of the end sections, pivot'members in the frame for the other of the end sections of the bed framework, said end section being mounted on said pivot members at a point intermediate of its length so that in the closing operation the inner end of said end section swings downwardly and depresses the middle section into the frame.

3. A collapsible bed comprising a frame, a three section bed framework, the sections of which are pivoted together end to end so that when collapsed the framework is of substantially U-form, a pair of pivoted arms at the front end of said frame disposed one on each side of said bed framework, said arms extending above the middle bed section when the bed framework is in the open position, a pin and slot connection between said arms and the middle section of the bed framework so that said arms support the said section in the open position and slide with respect thereto on the pin and slot connection during the closing operation, links connecting the upper ends of said pivoted arms to one of the end sections, pivot members in the frame for the other of the end sections of the bed framework, said end section being mounted on said pivot members at a point intermediate of its length so that in the closing operation the inner end of said end section swings downwardly and depresses the middle section into the 1 frame, and two pairs of legs pivoted to the first mentioned end section of the bed framework to support the same in the open position.

4. A collapsible bed comprising a frame,

a three section bed framework, the sections of which are pivoted together end to end so that when collapsed the framework is of substantially U-form, a pair of pivoted arms at the front end of said frame disposed one on each side of the bed framework, said arms extending above the middle bed section when the bed framework is in the open position, a pin and slot connection between said arms and the middle section of the bed framework so that said arms support the said section in the open position and slide with respect thereto on the pin and slot connection during the closing operation, links connecting the upper ends of said pivoted arms to one of the end sections, pivot members in the frame for the other of the end sections of the bed framework, said end section being mounted on said pivot members at a point intermediate of its length so that in the closing operation the J inner end of said end section swings downwardly and depresses the middle section into the frame, two pairs of legs pivoted to the first mentioned end section of the bed framework to support the same in the open position and pivoted head and foot rails to said bed framework.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

SAMUEL BRECKMAN.

JULIUS BREGKMAN. 

